Monthly Archives: August 2018

For those of you who have already received whopping electricity bills this summer, thanks to the merciless mercury levels on the thermostat, we have four strategies to help you save on summertime cooling costs.

All in Favor of Fans

Sure, it might seem obvious, but a few well-placed stand up, desk, or — better yet — ceiling fans work wonders to circulate air throughout your house as well as keep down your summer electric bill. Combining forces between fans and your AC unit helps regulate temperature without pushing your AC unit, or those bills, to the max.

Get with the Program

Speaking of pushing your AC to the max, avoid unnecessary expenditures by programming your unit depending on your schedule. When you’re home, of course, be comfortable and as cool as you wish. However, for those times when you’re at work, or when the temperature naturally drops at night after the sun goes down, program the unit to slightly higher temperatures in order to mitigate overall costs in the long run. It’s amazing how much money you can save by altering your heating or cooling just a few degrees.

Make Maintenance a Priority

We cannot stress this enough. Simply owning an AC system is one thing: maintaining it is imperative for optimal functionality and effectiveness. Think of your AC system as you do your car. Avoiding oil changes, for example, will catch up with you down the road, resulting in lackluster performance and a costly repair that could have been avoided. Schedule routine maintenance of your home’s AC system in order to stay as cool as possible, for a fraction of the cost.

Work with Your Window Treatments

We’re not suggesting that you escape the heat by entering hermit mode or making your house look uninhabited. However, working with your window treatments is a wise way to keep in the cooler air and keep out the heat. So, zip the blinds shut, draw the shades, whatever you can do to stretch the shade inside your home will boost the benefits of your AC system.

Start with these simple tips and give us a call to schedule your routine AC maintenance in order to get the most from your cooling system this summer.

Landscaping is more than just for looks. Strategic choices, regarding what to plan on your property and where, can seriously enhance your home’s energy efficiency – stretching those hard-earned dollars spent on cooling your home. Shrubs and bushes can help you beat the heat this summer, provided you understand proper placement for optimal, cost-effective cooling. Here are a pair of smart landscaping moves, a one-two punch, to get you started and support your AC system all summer…

Position Plants Carefully

It’s no secret that dark colors attract the sunlight. If you have a dark-colored roof, your home is absorbing a significant amount of heat on a regular basis. Windows, glass doors, and walls also attract the heat, essentially sealing it well within the four corners of your house.

A great way to combat this natural heat transfer is to shield your roof and walls with plants. Create natural shade for your home by planting trees, shrubs, bushes, and vines is an effective way to reduce the heat inside and assist your AC unit. In New England, an ivy known as Boston Ivy is coveted by building owners for just this very reason. You may already be aware of Boston’s iconic buildings covered in green Boston Ivy. This particular plant loves to cling to masonry exteriors and can drastically help with heating and cooling costs. Maybe that’s why Harvard is considered an “Ivy League” school?

Before you go plant crazy and stick some ivy to your house, you should Consult with a landscape architect and explain that your goal is to reduce the heat in your home and increase your AC’s efforts without breaking the bank. This helps to assure you that any plants you plant don’t destroy your home’s exterior, foundation, or otherwise.

Protect Your AC Unit

Runners know what it’s like to huff and puff their way up a hill with the sun beating against their backs. If your AC unit is out in the open, exposed to the elements, this would be like running up the hill all day, every day, during a heatwave and not making any progress. Here again, plants are your friend… or your AC unit’s friend. Shading your AC unit with shrubs or walling it behind a carefully pruned hedge protects it from the sun and decreases overall energy expenditure, considerably. This is better for your AC unit and your budget.

For more smart tips on how to keep your home cool and support your AC system this summer, give us a call!

Depending on the size of your home or office, relying on a window air conditioning unit this summer might not be adequate. In that case, ditching the window unit and choosing a new AC system might be your best bet. Here’s a quick look at some common AC window unit issues and the case for central air conditioning.

AC Window Units Woes

Good in a pinch, air conditioning window units can prove problematic for the following reasons: they can be noisy and have a tendency to emit less than pleasant odors into your home. Moreover, dust and debris that build up on the AC fan and motor can decrease the unit’s efficiency, which means that cleaning your unit regularly is crucial. What’s more – unreliable or faulty thermostats, along with cruddy coils, could compromise your AC window units’ efficacy, which is why choosing central air conditioning is key.

Investing in Central Air Conditioning

Granted, we recognize that investing in central air conditioning isn’t exactly cheap. However, given its considerable benefits, central air conditioning is well worth the initial investment and cost.. First of all, in addition to completely cooling your home or office space, central air conditioning provides fantastic air filtration, which can alleviate symptoms experienced by asthma and allergy sufferers.

In the event that you should ever relocate and need to put your home on the market, keep in mind that realtors and homebuyers love central air conditioning systems. They are a solid selling point for your home because with proper maintenance and upkeep these systems are effective and cost-efficient.

On top of this, no one likes to lug out a window AC unit when the temperature starts warming up. Trying to drag an air conditioner out from storage, the basement, or the attic, finding a good central spot for it, making sure it’s level and won’t fall out of the window, and making sure insects and bugs don’t enter from around the unit is infinitely more difficult than flicking a switch on the wall. Which would you prefer?

Look to the Local Guy

Keep in mind when choosing an AC system this summer that you want to stay local. The biggest issue with central air conditioning systems involves routine, professional maintenance. Opting for an AC installation from a business too far from your location will prove inconvenient and ineffective in the long-term.

Give us a call when you’re ready to discuss options for your best AC system this summer.